Edmunds: 2006 BMW 330i vs. 2006 Lexus IS 350

[CACressida]

I agree we should bring two hardcore american muscle guys and have them review their honest thoughts about these two cars. How the heck can you call the IS boring?

[AvalonMan96]

Originally Posted by BEI

I'll pick the IS350 for sexy looking

I agree. Living in Connecticut, the yuppie capital of the world, I see way too many 3-Series for them to even be considered "distinctive" anymore.

The new IS is ultra sexy!

[Camry1999]

i agree, it's same here in New Jersey...the 3series is too over-rated....my friend and two of my cousins have a 3...
it's almost like the hondas here....anyone here that's wants to modify thier cars....HONDA....it kind of de-values the car in a sense

[Tideland Prius]

ditto. My university parkade already has 3 new 3 series. (It also has 2 new IS lol). The rest are some form of German car. Toyota and Honda follow close behind.

[RiZLA]

can u get the "is" in a coupe? i always loved the bmw 3 series coupe

[Tideland Prius]

Not yet... I believe a coupe is in the works?

[91MR2quickNA]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

Not yet... I believe a coupe is in the works?

It's rumored to be unveiled sometime next year as a production model at one of the auto shows. It could be an early MY 2008 car. Supposedly, there's a V8 model of the coupe in the works too. IS460/500? Lexus officials have already hinted at an engine option bigger than the current 4.3L V8 (they were asked about the custom IS430). The coupe has been spotted testing on the Nurburgring using a modified Crown Athlete test mule body with fake rear doors.

I guess we have to play the waiting game.

[Camry1999]

the coupe would be great as long as they can make a real manual and a button to turn off the TRAC contral and stuff

[brucethebear]

Originally Posted by tdt59512

BMW wins, Lexus loses. I don't see why. Lexus is overall better, but yet they choose the BMW. They are racists!!

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=109021

One of my clients purchased a new 330i and has had it back to the shop six times for various reasons: stereo just decided to stop working, vents didn't work, the battery would work intermittently, etc.

I think the driving comparisons are a joke - who cares? Most aren't going to drive these cars on tracks in the same manner that they are in these comparisons. The true test is day-to-day life in them - and BMW really sucks bad, like most other European cars. They're all way over engineered or made by underpaid overworked Mexicans.

[Lord_Anarchy]

It's amazing how many BMW fanatics there are. God forbid the car fall to any other make and model that's not BMW. "The Ultimate Driving Machine" is the label, yet with their electrical issues (BMW 7 Series) the shenanigans they pulled during the CarAndDriver magazine comparo, how do they do still manage to win?

Ladies and Gentlemen, for you reading pleasure, the BMW 330i test drive:
$35,000 Sport Sedans, October 2005
Cars(in order of first place winner to last): BMW 330i, IS350, Infiniti G35, Acura TL, Audi A4 3.2 Quattro, Cadillac CTS, Volvo S60R AWD, Saab 9-3 Aero

".....Then the ABS lamp lit. We tried to execute one stop on our high-desert test road and nearly executed a 360 spin at 70 mph instead (thus, our braking number is from a previous test). Shortly thereafter several airbag-malfunction warnings lit up. Maybe it was just a coincidence.

Even with its dash ablaze in emergency alerts, the 330i wormed its way into our hearts...."

Any other car that would have done this would have been disqualified. But, I'm glad the BMW wormed it's way to first place. I could have NOT said it better myself. Since this article was issued, my love for Car And Driver has DIED. I don't frequent the site as I used to before and never will make the mistake of reading Car And Driver as a 100% serious magazine. Instead, it will serve to laugh at the reviews then line the cage of my parakeets so they can take a dump on the reviews of Larry Webster and someday a nice on his mouth (my fav guy to hate with a flaming passion after he totally crapped on a couple of cars I liked).

"Just-Try-to-Beat-the-3-Series Test" - This is what the ALSO introduced the comparo as... How do you NOT have the Bimmer win?

[Camry1999]

yea....my friend's got 2004 BMW 325Xi and he's been complaining about a a rough idle...but he has to keep it till 2007 because it's leased....
he took his car in for a recall for the engine coil which was causing the rough idle...
he just got it back a week or two ago and he siad it's still pretty rough...
now he wants an IS....or a Civic....i have absolutley no cluse why he wants a Civic....i'm trying to talk him out of it

[CACressida]

Originally Posted by Camry1999

i have absolutley no cluse why he wants a Civic....i'm trying to talk him out of it

I'd rather drive a Civic than a Bimmer. Most ppl think that all ppl just say that cuz there loyalist. I'm loyal to Toyota, but if I see something wrong, i'll point it out and keep mentioning it till its corrected. To be honest, if somebody throws me the pinkslip for a 7 series bimmer brand new to trade off my old 1991 230,000mile Cressida, i'd givem the middle finger. Case Closed. Bimmer sux, and they'll always suck in my opinion.

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by CACressida

I'd rather drive a Civic than a Bimmer. Most ppl think that all ppl just say that cuz there loyalist. I'm loyal to Toyota, but if I see something wrong, i'll point it out and keep mentioning it till its corrected. To be honest, if somebody throws me the pinkslip for a 7 series bimmer brand new to trade off my old 1991 230,000mile Cressida, i'd givem the middle finger. Case Closed. Bimmer sux, and they'll always suck in my opinion.

can't you sell it and get an IS heh.

Yeah, kinda funny how my friend left her cellphone at home one day and she finishes school after the sun sets and she's worried that she won't be able to call for help if her car breaks down or what not (2004 BMW 325xi). I was like.. "break down? what the hell is that?" my other friend (who has a 98 Sienna) laughed.